Suddenly, for many, a life of school will become the school of life. DAVID HARBOURNE, director of the Learning and Skills Council, North Yorkshire applauds the prospect

THE Government's new proposals for education will bring in a number of changes which employers will welcome.

The most important development is to encourage more young people to take a vocational course while still at school. A range of subjects will be on offer, including engineering, manufacturing and tourism and hospitality. These can be taken in place of subjects such as history, geography and modern languages.

Of course, this isn't the first time that 14-16 year olds have been able to take practical courses. When I was at Thirsk School, it was possible to learn about animal husbandry, among other things; and in recent years, there have been qualifications called General National Vocational Qualifications which give an introduction to vocational subjects.

The big new idea is that the young people who opt for a vocational GCSE will spend some of their time out of school, either at a college or with an employer. This will give them access to the best equipment and to direct experience of work.

It will help them develop not only a range of practical skills, but also an understanding of other things people need when they start work - an ability to solve problems, an appreciation of team work, and even basic things like arriving at work on time.

I have heard it said that encouraging children to specialise at the age of 14 will reduce the choices available to them when they leave school. I don't think this will happen. For one thing, they will still study a broad range of subjects, including English and maths.

And second, even if they choose to drop their chosen vocational subject - engineering, for example - when they leave school, it will leave them with a better understanding of the world of work. Many employers have told me that young people lack this understanding at the moment, so surely the new ideas deserve to be given a chance.

In case anyone still wonders whether it can work, I can only point to experience in other countries. I once went on a week-long study trip to Belgium and was fascinated by the range of vocational choices open to children from 13 onwards. Some of their learning was in school, some in college and some in the workplace. And they learned true professional skills, such as bread-making using modern equipment and commercial ovens.

What impressed me most of all was that all children got a taste of vocational learning, whether they were regarded as academically bright or not.

True, as they got older there was a tendency to specialise in either academic or vocational subjects, but the important thing was that everyone gained experience of vocational learning, and an appreciation of its true worth.

The same applies in many countries in Europe and beyond. Is it any surprise, then, that Germans regard engineering as a top career choice? Or that chefs are highly regarded members of their community?

It's time we followed suit, and these reforms will undoubtedly be a step in the right direction.

Updated: 10:59 Tuesday, February 26, 2002